* Student Achievement: Measured by standardized test scores (like NAEP), graduation rates, and college readiness.
* School Funding: Per-pupil spending and funding equity across districts.
* Teacher Quality: Teacher salaries, experience, and qualifications.
* Resources and Infrastructure: Availability of technology, libraries, and other resources.
* Equity and Access: Addressing disparities in educational outcomes based on race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and disability.
Therefore, you'll find different rankings depending on the source. To get a comprehensive picture, you would need to consult several reputable sources and consider their methodologies. Some organizations that publish state education rankings include:
* Education Week: Produces an annual Quality Counts report that ranks states based on various indicators.
* U.S. News & World Report: Publishes state education rankings that consider factors like test scores, graduation rates, and college readiness.
* WalletHub: Offers rankings based on a range of metrics, often incorporating affordability and accessibility.
* The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): While not producing a single ranking, NCES provides extensive data on various aspects of education at the state level, which can be used to create your own analysis.
It's crucial to remember that any ranking is a snapshot in time and should be interpreted cautiously. Rankings don't capture the full complexity of a state's education system, and the underlying data may have limitations.